Apparatus for hygienically treating the hands



8, 1950 E. s. FRANKLIN ETAL 2,517,996

A APPARATUS FOR HYGIENICALLY TREATING THE HANDS Filed Dec. 5, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CARL SATTLIR Y EDWARD S. FRANKLIN B @MQWJL 4 7'TORNEVS 1950 E. s. FRANKLIN ETAL 2,517,996

APPARATUS FOR HYGIENICALLY TREATING THE HANDS Filed Dec. 5, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CARL SATTLER EDWARD S. Fnmxgm Patented Aug. 8,1950 APPARATUS FOR HYGIENICALLY TREATING THE HANDS Edward S. Franklinand Carl Sattler, Detroit,

Mich., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Ralzemond B.Parker, Royal Oak,

Mich.

Application December 5, 1947, Serial No. 789,984

11 Claims. (Cl. 2161) This invention relates to an apparatus fortreating and conditioning the hands and wearing apparel of players andworkers and particularly to a process and apparatus for hygienicallytreating and conditioning the hands of bowlers and players of othertypes of games, and makers of tools, gauges and watches and the like.

Heretofore, there have been associated with bowling alleys towels andchalk for drying and conditioning the hands of the players. Associatedwith each bowling alley there is usually provided a towel mounted on anewel post or the like and used by all of the players in a particulargame on the alley and by players in subsequent games.

In the larger bowling alley establishments, clean towels are provideddaily or even more frequently, but, even so, the continued use of suchtowels by many persons is very unsanitary, and the spread of contagiousdiseases can very readily occur by the use thereof. In watch makingestablishments and in tool and gauge manufacturing plants, liquidtreating solutions have been usedto treat the hands of the workers, butsuch solutions have reacted strongly and harmfully on the hands.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved devicefor treating and conditioning the hands of players, such as bowlers andplayers who use their hands in other games, which eliminates the use oftowels altogether and may dispense if desired with the employment ofchalk and other similar means for improving the hands of the players.

Another important object of this invention is to providea novel handconditioning device which not only eliminates the use of such unsanitarytowels but subjects the hands of the players to antiseptic treatmentwhich is germicidal and fungicidal in action.

Another important object of the invention is 'to provide a device ofthis character which is not only hygienic but improves the hands of the'tional newel posts such as used in bowling alleys or separatelysupported from the floor. The device comprehends the use of a gaseousmedium such as air, having incorporated therein an antiseptic substance,and warmed so that it will act more eifectively and quickly dry upon thehands of the user. An important feature of the invention is theprovision of a device having a blower for causing the air to flow uponthe hands of a bowler or worker, and the further provision in the deviceof both heating means and antiseptic means for providing a gaseousmedium for hygienically treating and conditioning of the hands of suchusers. The various elements of the device are mounted in a novelrelationship to one another to accomplish this purpose in a highlyefficient manner and without entailing any dif ficult movements on thepart of the user.

Another important feature of the invention is the provision in such adevice of control means, preferably electrical, for starting andstopping the operation of the device at the will of the user so that thedevice is only operative when it is intended for the purpose designed.As a result, the device is economically operated. A further importantfeature of the invention is the provision of a device of this characterwherein two control devices mounted on opposite sides of the unit may beoperated by two bowlers simultaneously if desired, and thereby enableone unit to provide service to a pair of adjacent bowling alleys.

The invention is capable of being manufactured and assembled at low costand to operate for long periods of time. The invention when embodied inthe unit illustrated herein consists of few parts which are so arrangedrelatively to one another that each part performs its function withoutinterference with the other parts and which are capable of beingmanufactured at low cost and assembled rapidly b unskilled Workmen. 7

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features of theinvention will become more fully apparent from the followingspecification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating the mounting and location of aunit alongside of a pair of bowling alleys.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the unit.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the unit with the cover element removed,

asmecc P l Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the antisepticchamber.

Fig. 5 is a top view in small scale of a unit with the cover elementthereon,

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit associated with theunit, and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation in small scale, partly broken away in crosssection, and illustrating a modification of the invention for treating.articles such as bowlers shoes.

As shown in Fig. 1, the unit generally indictaed at I0 may be mountedupon anewel post such as that located to the rear of and between twoadjacent bowling alleys. The unit is shown mounted upon the upper end ofthe newel post but may, if desired, be supported by brackets from theside of the post, or, if desired, supported from the floor independentlyof the post. The unit 19 is preferably constructed with an outside shellin the form of the bowl. I2, the upper end of the bowl being covered bya, perforated inverted dished cover plate is.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 2 and 3, the bowl portion I2 of theunit is provided with two separate sets of air inlet apertures oropenings, one set being located in the side of the bowl at 1'6 and theother set being located in the bottom of the bowl at it. As shown inFig. 3, the side apertures I8 preferably take the form of elongatedslots having thei longitudinal dimensions extending parallel to theupper edge of the bowl. These slots l6 cover a substantial portion ofthe sides of the bowLand as shown'in Fig. 3, extend almost completelyaround the bowl leaving an unap'ertured wall section 20 on one side ofthe bowl. The bottom apertures l8 may be in the form of circular holesor short arcuate slots.

The cover element M, previously mentioned, has a diameter such that itmay be received over the bowl portion l2 and cover the entire areathereof.- The cover element is provided with a plurality of arcuateslots 22 spaced radially from the" center thereof and of increasinglygreater lengths the further they are removed from the center, as shownin Fig. 5. The slots 22 form a gridpattern over the entire area of thecover element and it" is from these slots that the antisepticallytreated air flows. The peripheral edge of the cover M is preferablyshaped to provide a depending flange or rim 24 which fits over the upperedge of the bowl portion 12 and which is secured thereto against removalby set screws 26. The perforated area of the cover element may bedivided into two half-sections by an arcuate shaped vertical plate 28extending diametrically across the cover element and secured as shown inFig. 5 to opposite sides of the cover element. This plate divides theupper area of the unit into two sections from which the treated airissues, enabling the unit to be simultaneously used by two playerswithout interference with one another.

Within the bowl portion of the unit there is provided an air-blowing fan3!) fixed to a vertical shaft 32 driven by an electric motor 34. The fan'30 is located in the upper section of the bowl portion l2 and is soconstructed that when rotated in one direction it will draw in airthrough the side inlet ports l6 and cause the same to flow out of thedischarge ports 22 in the cover member l4. The electric motor isprovided with a dependent vertical shaft 38 to which a small fan 40under the motor is attached. The sides of the motor are preferablyprovided with cooling fins 42 which are enclosed within a circular metalhand or sleeve 44. The fins extend vertically and are spaced apart fromone another to form vertical open-ended passages around the motor 34.Below the motor housing supported thereby is a dished cover plateelement 44 having a series of openings 46 disposed immediately belowthefan Ml. When the motor is in operation the fan 40 is. also rotated andacts to draw in air through the bottom holes or ports is of the bowlportion, through the openings 46 of the cover member 44, and thenceupwardly through the passages between the fins 42. This air serves tocool the motor when in operation.

Disposed on a level below the main fan 30 and approximately on the levelof the upper end of the motor is an electrical heating coil 48 which, asshown in Fig. 3, is supported in the shape of a square. The character ofthe support for the electrical heating element is preferably fourequidistantly spaced armsifl rising vertically from the bottom of. thebowl and inclined inwardly for attachment to the; band 44, as shown inFig. 2. The upper end sections of the arms 50 incline outwardly and areshaped to grip insulators 52' each of which is axially boredto provide apassage for the heating coil 48. The lower ends of the supporting arms50 are each attached by means of screws 54 to an upwardly projectingboss 56 forming' an integral part of the bowl portion l2.

Located within the unit I5 is a receptacle or container holding. aliquid of. antiseptic characteri'stics. This liquid, as will be laterexplained, is capable of being readily vaporized and carried into theair stream created by the larger fan 30. Referring to Figs- 3 and 4,,there is located in the interior of the bowl element [2 adjacent oneside portion thereof a receptacle indicated at 58 which may be castintegrally with the wall of the bowl. This receptacle is provided with aremovable cover member 60 having a central aperture 62 therein. Normallythe: cover member 60 is retained in place upon the receptacle and may besecured thereto against unintentional removal by any suitable means suchas the set screws shown at 63- in Fig. 3. Within the receptacle is a.body of liquid 64 having antiseptic qualities as previously mentionedand a wick. 68 partially immersed in the liquid and having one endthereof projecting upwardly through the aperture 62 in the cover plate50. The container 58' has one wall common with the wall of the-bowl anda feed inlet passage 10 is bored or otherwise formed in this wall whichopens into the container for supplying liquid thereto. Preferably thepassageway 10 inclines upwardly from the receptacle and is provided witha tube 12 projecting from the outer end thereof having a normally closedcap M overlying the outer end thereof. This form of supply conduitenables the container 58 to be refilled periodically without requiringthe removal of the cover member 14.

As shown in Fig. 3, the container 58 for the antiseptic liquid islocated on one side wall por tion of the bowl, and the air inlet slots[6 terminate short of this portion leaving the area of the side wallwhere the containeris located unapertured. The'projecting end of thewick 68 is on a level in the bowl portion so as to discharge its fumesinto the air stream created by the. fan 30 and flowing between the inletports l5 and the discharge ports 22.

The electric motor 34 and the heating coil 48 are'preferably suppliedwith electric current from a single source of electrical energy. Thecircuit for the motor and the coil is schematically illustrated in Fig.6. The motor and the coil are located in series in a normally opencircuit indicated at '16 which may be closed by two separate switches18-18. Either one of the switches will operate the motor and the heatingcoil.

To facilitate use of the unit, the two switches 18-48 previouslydescribed are mounted on opposite sides of the device and preferably onopposite sides of the dividing plate 28 as shown in Fig. 5. The switchesare preferably microswitches having depressible push buttons Bil asshown in Fig. 5. These buttons project through the cover member 22 asshown in Fig. 2 closer to one end of the dividing plate 28 than theother and by virtue of this arrangement a bowler or other user may resthis wrist upon the push button to close the switch thereof and extendhis hand over the grid portion of the cover plate It to receive theupwardly flowing air issuing from the ports 22. When the device isassociated with a pair of bowling alleys, the dividing plate 28 isarranged to extend parallel to the bowling alleys and thereby serve toseparate the hands of two bowlers using the device at the same time.

The antiseptic liquid which it is desired to use is preferablyformaldehyde in aqueous solution which is mixed in a water solution atapproximately a 5% concentration. Formaldehyde is germicidal andfungicidal in action and when deposited on the hands of bowlers and thelike at the proper concentration will provide a surface coating whichwill not only destroy bacteria but will also condition the hands of thebowlers for holding the ball. An important feature of such a substanceis the fact that, in addition to its bacteria destroying quality, italso tends to inhibit perspiration and reduce the acid condition of thehands. In addition to the antiseptic ingredient in the water solution,it is desirable to add a small percentage of a deodorant forneutralizing the odor of the antiseptic and for sweetening the airissuing from the unit.

Formaldehyde in a gaseous warm condition is considerably more effectivethan when in liquid form and the present invention takes advantage ofthis fact and employs the means hereinabove described for mixing a smallbut eifective percentage of the compound in a warmed air stream.Formaldehyde in the liquid form heretofore used to treat the hands ofwatchmakers and the like is inflammable, but in the approximately 5%concentration used in the device of this invention, the formaldehydewhether in liquid or gaseous condition is not combustible.

Figure 7 illustrates a modification of the invention wherein the deviceis adapted for treating articles in place of the hands as previouslydescribed and which is particularly adapted to treating shoes, glovesand other wearing apparel. Referring to Fig. 7, the device is generallysimilar to that previously described except that the cover member M isdifferently shaped and is provided with novel means for treating sucharticles. The cover member of the modification is indicated at 82 and ispreferably imperforated through its entire area except for its provisionof two upwardl projecting tubes 84-84. The upper ends of these tubes maybe curved or bent as shown at 86 to form horns upon which shoes orgloves or other wearing apparel may be mounted to receive the treatedair from the device. In Fig. 7, abowlers shoe is shown fittedover one ofthe horns 86.

The cover member 82 is shaped to be fitted over the bowl portion l2which is constructed like that previously described including a fan 30and the air inlet slots I6. One push button 90 corresponding to eitherone of the push buttons -80 previously described may be reciprocallymounted in the cover member 82 for controlling the action of the device.This push button may be so located that when the cover member 82 is laidupon the bowl member l2 the push button will align with one of themicro-switches B8 of the device. One push button alone is sufficient foroperating the device and the other micro-switch may be inoperativelyconcealed by the cover member. To use the modification of Fig. 7, thecover member M of the previous embodiment of the invention is removedand the cover 82 provided with the tubes 84-84 is substituted therefor.Thereafter by putting shoes, gloves or other articles of wearing apparelupon the horns 86 the warm air containing formaldehyde at the same orslightly higher concentration will be blown into the shoes or gloves andsterilize them completely.

While there has been illustrated and described two preferred forms ofthe invention, it will be understood that various changes andmodifications therein may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will thereforebe understood that the claims appended hereto are intended to cover allchanges and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What we claim is:

l. A hand conditioner for bowlers comprising, in combination, abowl-shaped hollow body having a plurality of air inlet ports in theside thereof, a cover member extending over the upper end of the bodyand having a plurality of air discharge outlet ports, a power driven fandisposed in said body and adapted when rotated to create a stream of airentering the inlet ports and flowing through the body and dischargingfrom said outlet ports, means in the body for heating the air stream asit flows therethrough, and means in the body for introducing anantiseptic fluid into the air stream as it flows therethrough.

2. A hand conditioner for bowlers and the like comprising, incombination, a bowl-shaped hollow bod having a plurality of air inletportsin the side thereof, a cover member extending over the upper end ofthe body and having a plurality of air discharge outlet ports, anelectrical motor in said body having a fan so disposed in the body thatin operation it creates a stream of air entering said inlet ports andflowing through the body for discharge from said outlet ports, anelectrical heating element in the body so disposed in the air streamthat it warms the same, means in the body for introducing an antisepticfluid into the air stream, and an electrical controlling means on theoutside of the body operable to start and stop the operation of both themotor and the heating element.

3. A hand conditioner for bowlers and the like comprising, incombination, a bowl-shaped body having a set of air inlet ports in theside wall thereof and a second set of air inlet ports in the bottomthereof, a cover member extending over the upper open end of the bodyhaving a plurality of air discharge outlet ports, an electric motor inthe body, a main fan operatively driven by the motor and so disposed ona level in the bowl between the first set of air inlet ports and theoutlet ports in the cover member as to create an air stream movingthrough the body, a fan operatively driven by the motor and disposed inthe lower part of th bowl immediately adjacent electric circuit meansfor operating said motor and said heating coil from a source of electricenergy, and a switch in the circuit means operable to start and stop theoperation of the motor and the coil simultaneously.

4. An air treating device comprising, in combination, a hollow bodyopened at the top, a removable cover member for the body adapted tooverlie the open end thereof, said body and said cover member having oneor more ports through which air may pass, a power driven fan located inthe body in such position therein that when rotated it will create anair stream in the body causing air to enter said one or more ports inthe body and exhaust the same upwardly through said one or more ports inthe cover member, a heating element located in the body in such positiontherein that it will warm the air stream created by the fan, and acontainer located in the body adapted to hold a vaporizable liquidantiseptic and provided with means for injecting the vaporized portionof the antiseptic into the air stream created by the fan.

5. An air treating device comprising, in combination, a hollow bodyopened at the top, a removable cover member for the body adapted tooverlie the open end thereof, said body and said cover member having oneor more ports through which air may pass, a power driven fan located inthe body in such position therein that when rotated it will create anair stream in the body causing air to enter said one or more ports inthe body and exhaust the same upwardly through said one or more ports inthe cover member, a heating element located in the body in such positiontherein that it will warm the .air stream created by the fan, acontainer located in the body adapted to. hold a vaporizable liquidantiseptic, a normally closed inlet passage through the body for fillingsaid container, and means for. discharging the fumes of the antisepticheld in said container into the air stream created by the fan.

- 6-. A hand conditioner for players and workers comprising, incombination, a hollow body opened at the upper end and provided with aplurality of air inlet ports opening thereinto below the upper endthereof, a cover member for the body adapted to overlie the open endthereof and provided with a plurality of air outlet ports openingupwardly therethrough, an electrically driven blade. located centrallyin the body on a level between the cover member and the inlet ports andadapted when rotated to create an air stream movin through the body fromthe air inlet ports upwardly through the air outlet ports, an electricalheating element supported in the body in encircling relationship aroundthe axis of rotation of the blade and on a level between the blade andthe airinlet ports so as to Warm the air entering the same, a normallyclosed container in the body adapted to contain. a vaporizable liquid,said container having means for slowly discharging vapors of the liquidinto the air stream created by the blade.

7. A hand, conditioner comprising, in combination, a hollow body openedat its upper end and provided with a plurality of air inlet ports in theside wall thereof spaced circumferentially therearound, a cover memberior the body over- 8 lying; the upper opened end thereof andv pro videdwith a plurality of air outlet ports over substantially the entire areathereof, a vertical guard plate secured to and extending diametricallyacross the upper side of the cover member and dividing the ported areathereof into two separate sections, an electrically driven rotatingblade located centrally in the body on a level between the cover memberand the air inlet ports, an electrical heating element supported in thebody in encircling relationship to the axis of rotation of the blade andon a level between the same and the air inlet ports, an electric circuitdelivering current for operating said blade and said heating elementincluding two switches located on the upper side of the cover member onopposite sides of the guard plate.

8. A hand conditioner comprising, in combination, a hollow body openedat its upper end and provided with a plurality of air inlet ports in theside wall thereof spaced circumferentially therearound and in spacedrelationship to the upper end of the body, the cover member for the bodyoverlying the opened end thereof and provided with a plurality of airoutlet ports over substantially the entire area thereof, a verticalguard plate secured to and extending diametrie cally across the upperside of the cover member and dividing the ported area thereof into twoseparate sections, a container located in the body adapted to hold avaporizable liquid antiseptic and provided with means for injectingvaporsof the antiseptic into the air within the body, an electricallydriven fan located centrally in the body on a level between the covermember and the air inlet ports and, adapted upon rotation to induce airto enter the inlet ports and discharge from the outlet ports, anelectric heating element supported in the body in encirclingrelationship to the axis of rotation of the fan and on a level betweenthe fan and the air inlet ports, an electric circuit for deliveringcurrent to operate said fan and said heating element, and a pair ofdepressible switches for controlling the circuit located on the upperside of the cover member substantially diametrically opposite to oneanother and adjacent to the opposite ends of said guard plate.

9. A hand conditioner comprising, in combination, a hollow-bowl--shapedbody opened at its upper end and provided with a plurality of air inletports in the side wall thereof spaced circum ferentially therearound andin spaced relation to the upper end of the body and further providedwith one or more air inlet ports in the bottom thereof, a cover memberfor the opened endof the body adapted to overlie the same. and providedwith a plurality of outlet ports extending substantially over the entirearea thereof, a vertical guard plate secured to andv extending d1ametrically across the upper side of the cover member and dividing theportedarea thereof into two separate sections, an electric motor mountedcentrally in the body and driving a relatively large blade located onalevel between the cover member and the side wall air inlet ports anddriving a relativeiy smaller blade located adjacent to the bottom of thebody, said motor adaptedupon operation to simultaneously rotate both of.said blades to cause the larger blade to. induce air to enter the sidewall inlet ports and to cause the smaller blade to induce air toenter-thebottom air inlet ports, and an electric heating elementsupported in the body in encircling relationship to. the axisof-rotation of said larger blade; and

on a level between the same and the side wall air inlet ports, acontainer located in the body adapted to hold a vaporizable liquidantiseptic and provided with means for discharging the fumes of theantiseptic held in said container into the air stream created in thebody by the larger blade, and an electric circuit for delivering currentto operate said blades and said heatin element including a pair ofdepressible control switches projecting from the upper side of the covermember substantially diametrically opposite to one another and adjacentto the opposite ends of said guard plate.

10. A conditioning device comprising, in combination, a hollow bodyopened at its upper end and provided with a plurality of the air inletports in the side wall thereof spaced circumferentially therearound, acover member for said body overlying the opened end thereof and providedwith one or more upwardly projecting tubes perforated adjacent theirupper ends and communicating at their lower ends with the interior ofthe body, an electrically driven blade rotatably supported centrally inthe body on a level between the cover member and the air inlet ports andadapted to induce air to enter the inlet ports and discharge from theperforated ends of the tubes, an electric heating element supported inthe body in encircling relationship to the axis of the rotation of theblade and on a level between the blade and the air inlet ports, acontainer supported in the interior of the body adapted to hold avaporizable liquid antiseptic and including means for discharging thefumes of the antiseptic held therein into the air stream in the bodycreated by the blade.

11. A conditioning device comprising, in combination, a hollowsubstantially closed body having a plurality of air inlet ports belowthe upper end thereof, a motor driven rotatable blade mounted in thebody for inducing air to enter the inlet ports, an electrical heatingelement in the body for heating the air thus induced, a containersupported in the interior of the body adapted to hold a vaporizableliquid antiseptic including means for discharging the fumes of theantiseptic into the air induced to enter the body, and one or moretubular projections rising from the upper end of the body and havingtheir lower ends opening into communication with the interior thereof,said one or more tubular projections being bent laterally adjacent totheir upper ends and provided with one or more air outlet ports throughwhich air antiseptically treated in the body may escape.

EDWARD S. FRANKLIN. CARL SATTLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,455,034 Small May 15, 19231,945,379 Roesch Jan. 30, 1934 2,335,056 Grison Nov. 23, 1943 2,354,817Law Aug. 1, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 501,154 GreatBritain Feb. 22, 1939

